"What If They Hate My Face?" And Other Surtex Thoughts

There seem to be two types of surtex updates out there. Artist "A" is the amazing but seemingly unbelievable hybrid of Martha Stewart/Julia Child/A Magical Unicorn that posts stylish photos of all their mailers, new art, and 50 bazillion pillow covers they somehow have time to sew for their booth. Their web presence seems to suggest that they get up on perfect sunny mornings and sketch in their garden with a pet napping at their feet. These posts are great because they inspire you and make you proclaim "Yes! That can be me!".

THEN there is Artist "B" who shows you all the nitty gritty of what one has to do to prepare for Surtex. They aren't shy about sharing the one-week illness that prevented them from doing a single thing on their To-Do List (and by the way the virus has now infected the kids), the fact that their booth banners printed WAAAAAY too dark, or that they are scrambling every extra minute trying to squeeze one last portfolio piece out of themselves. These posts are equally as important, because they make you proclaim "Thank goodness it's not just me!" when you're in the thick of it.

In a week I will be leaving for Surtex, which is kind of surreal and mind-boggling. It almost seems like Christmas or a vacation you've been looking forward to- not exactly "real" until it's right upon you. Also, I realize over the last few weeks many of my sentences include the phrase "after Surtex", as in "I will clean my studio after Surtex. I will go to the gym five times a week with Keith after Surtex. I will brush my hair after Surtex." (ok, maybe I'm exaggerating that last one).

I find myself asking a lot of questions. Questions like:

- "What if people think my art is too weird?"

- "Heck to that, what if people think I'm too weird?"

- No seriously, Vegas is taking bets on how many times I will hear "We really like your work, but it's just not our customer."

- "What if it rains and there is a leak in the Javits Center?"

- "What if the air conditioning goes out in the Javits Center and we're super hot?"

- "What if the Javits Center gets infested with a swarm of bees? Or even worse, ZOMBIE BEES."

- "What if I meet one of my idols and high-five them out of excitement, only for it to go horribly wrong and smack them right in the nose; thus sending them to the hospital? (note to self: DO NOT  high-five anyone. Probably the safest thing to do.)

But seriously, am I excited? Yes. Am I absolutely terrified? YES. 

But...I remember a lecture where a noted CEO said "You should have plans, and those plans should scare you", so I guess I'm doing something right.

Right? See you there!